Hello here is another chapter, have fun reading.
The sunrise means so many things as it drifts in, igniting the colors of my room. This light is the greatest artist in history, creating beauty on the canvas beyond this window pane. It shines a path to my friends, and, as my mind wanders to them, I feel my eyes smile and a rising coziness in my core. Along the way, these new rays will reveal silken webs and grass wands of many hues, the rich browns of oak arms, the silver-cream of our moon above. Even before I move the quilt, I have dreamed each waving leaf, telling its own story to the wind with each dancing flutter.
It was time to get up, the chill was setting in now as the rain was falling. Today Celia and Miles are leaving today and we're going into town even with the rainfall it was a must now. I wore my dark green long-sleeved thermal with dark jeans, my brown knee-high boots last was a black scarf to help keep me warmer. My hair was down for once the autumn brown with its hints of blonde fell like waves down my back. I walked out seeing Celia coming my way a smile on her face when she smiled you totally forgot about the scar.
"Good Morning, Finely,"
"Morning Celia, are you and Miles getting ready to leave?" hoping they have called it off, but it was a farfetched hope.
"Yes, we will make the hike to town and take the truck from there, only four days by late night Monday we will be home," her voice firm but more comforting it made me sigh. My own voice low, "Sorry, I must seem so needy. But Miles and yourself just make all this conceivable to me. You've been like the mother I've never had in these months," her lush eyes filled with tears than she crashed into me her arms like iron, We just held on to the other, I never really blubber and spill emotions like running water but it all just came out.
Miles cleared his throat, "Ladies time for our meal, then we must leave," now it was Celia who turned giving him a look. "Must we go, Miles?" her voice wobbly as she had been crying he smiled and gave her a look.
"We must, now my love why the change of heart,"
Celia turned to me, "You go on ahead and start, we will be right behind you. Like I said my darling, late Monday no later than that," this was me being dismissed so that they might have an adult conversation.
Hurrying away into the dining area where Mae was just beaming at Angus as Jesse smiled getting up from his seat with his own hand outstretched to me. A greeting Grandpa did for Grandma when I was still young, placing my hand into his rougher one he helped me sit. "Oh, Finley your hair is so heavenly," I beamed at her.
"Thank you, ma'am,"
I just plated fruit and a slice of toast, when Jesse smiled at me. "You should eat some meat helps with protein and we have a long day ahead of us," He wasn't looking at my frame but the journey today.
"You're right, thank you, Jesse," only adding a slice of pork sausage and bacon, just enough but not too much. Ceila and Miles rejoin us to have our morning meal, Miles placed a kiss to my head before sitting a fact he never did with any but his wife. Mae smiled none the less now we all sit and eat the smells from the cooked meat to the pine sol wafted in the air as conversation picked up.
In no time we are trekking through the woods, Celia's hands clasped with Miles and Mae with Angus, I strolled behind Miles while Jesse was talking to his pa. Wildlife roamed but left us alone "They have a tunnel that leads right at the edge of town, faster and they never have been seen," the walk seemed to last forever. Upon the forest floor lie trees of yesteryear, fallen in storms long forgotten. The seasons have been harsh, stripping away the bark and outer layers, yet rendering them all the more beautiful. They have the appearance of driftwood, twisting in patterns that remind me of seaside waves; even the color of the moss is kelp-like. They are soft, damp, yet my fingers come away dry. The forest is the orchestra of my mind, playing one enchanting symphony after another. Her leaves dance to an unheard beat, whispering their songs to the wind. In here, sheltered by the mighty trees, is every kind of life, from the humble beetle to enchanting birds of every color. I hold my hands up to feel the cascading light, a brilliant white shaft illuminating the path that takes me onward and home.
But now the tunnel is upon us, its cool man made now Jesse comes closer, his words low. "You holding up?"
I answered, "Doin just fine," making sure my voice was pleasant as light was seen at the very end. "After this pa and ma will go get the truck, we will drive into town," A new life was spread out right in front of me and every day was so new.
"Is it safe for us to be in town?"
"As safe as it is anywhere, in town people know our parents and respect them,"
Then silence as we waited for them to arrive with the truck, and when they do I am surprised it is a newer Ford and not something older. "Come on kids," Angus bellowed but not a harsh tone just giddy more like it.
Jesse jumped in the bed with his hand outstretched to me, "Come on," his swirling cocoa brown eyes twinkling with mirth, but he also was calm and wanted to finally settle. But with a smile my hand was in his as I climbed into the bed with him, Angus drove down the paved road as Jesse wrapped his jacket around me. "It's okay, you need it more,"
"Thank you, going to get my own in town and some warmer clothes," again, I was sorely lacking in social skills but with them, it never mattered. Jesse was close his arm around me which was very new and made me feel new things, things that he wouldn't feel. I just tossed logic out the window and leaned my head onto his shoulder and he just pulled me closer making my heart rate skyrocket.
Now it seemed the ride was very short, rustic cabins with a store hang signs dotted the grassy hills as trees stood up like spikes, zigzagging the border of brick roads and unpolished homes. Rivers streamed through deep valleys. I was helped out by Miles as Celia hugged on me once again, I just hugged her back. "Now you listen to me, no later than Monday night. You be safe now, we love you, Finely," her soft lips pressed to my head as Miles came over hugging me close as well.
"No running off now, I promise little bit we will be back," his voice so deep and warm, it was like a blanket.
"I got her," Jesse took my hand as they got in another truck that was parked in a rent a shop type place. We four waved as they drove off, "We are going to just get supplies, and bring them to the truck you get anything you need, now is the time," Mae patted my hand as she spoke softly.
"I just need winter clothes,"
I found a local shop, picking our sweaters, jeans, scarfs that all looked vintage and warm. Last was a petite coat and socks, my boots are good enough I had noticed Jesse following me even as I walked to the truck "Mind helping me, Jesse?" like that he was laughing helping me load my purchases in the cab, I handed him back his own coat and placed mine on.
"How about I get us some cocoa?" he offered, taking my hand into his walking off not really giving me a choice. Today is rainy day walking - every person with their head down and moving at maximum speed. Those with umbrellas take wider berths of one another, the rest take care to duck when the spokes come their way. The sound of feet on wet paving stones is almost lost against the splashing of the traffic, only the click of high heels still clear. The usual smell of nature and small towns dampened. I just smiled the rain hitting us now, but something thrilling about this too. My hand in his walking fast in the rain even as he laughed pulling me along the cobbled lane and into a local shop that hit us with warmth.
"Sit, be right back," he was infectious when happy, he helped me to sit before rushing to the counter. I looked around it was homely and warm, some people are chatting and having a good time as I glanced overseeing a girl my age with wine colored hair chatting with Jesse as he held to cups, she was beautiful.
His voice was a tad louder now, "Sorry, you see that girl over there. I am all hers," nice, he gave her a reason to leave.
Like that she turned seeing me waiting, she just resumed her own seat with her friends leaving him be. "You must get that a lot, girls tossing themselves at you," I stated a little amused.
He set my cup in my hands bringing more warmth, "I do, it is never wanted. We have mates like my parents and Celia and Miles. I think I knew it wasn't Winnie,"
I asked him with wide eyes, "How did you know it wasn't her?" the drink was hot but tasted like heaven, it wasn't normal cocoa.
He drank and his eyes turned back to me, "I left and it took nearly a hundred years to come back. If it had been meant to be like my mate, doubt I could have lasted a day," that made such sense, hard but now he understood. We fall into silence and just drink until Mae and Angus walked in seeing us, "We are having supper in town, come along," Mae smiled as we got up and followed them, the rain going harder now as Jesse pulled me close as the streets are getting flooded a little. It was a local diner in a big cabin with the second best food I've had in years, it hit me I missed my grandmother and would call her once again in the morning.
"So glad we could have you home for the winter son," Angus spoke when another spoke, her voice older. "Angus, Mae these your youngins?"
"This is our son, Jesse and," now Jesse cut them off since they may not know what to say. "This is Finley, my girl," like that the old lady beamed patting Mae before rushing off.
"Quick on your feet son, thank you,"
Mae just smiled, but this smile was new not one I had seen before.